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A feed supplement is anything fed to a horse in addition to a natural diet of forage. Technically grain is a supplement. But the term has come to mean any additional nutrients (such as certain vitamins and minerals, extra protein, energy, etc.) that might be lacking in the diet and are added to a horse's ration. In recent years, a growing number of horse owners have also been feeding herbal supplements and various compounds thought to enhance certain aspects of health and performance.
Horses involved in strenuous activities might benefit from some types of supplements, since high-stress performance depletes some of the body's nutrients and mineral stores more rapidly than a natural diet of forages can replace them. A wise use of certain supplements could also benefit horses with various health problems. Also, many dietary deficiencies in horses are subclinical (not obvious), so horse owners tend to err on the side of trying to supply additional nutrients in case the horse might have a deficiency.
Some horses are hard keepers, slow healers, have poor stamina, poor reproductive performance, poor hoof growth, or weak hoof horn. These problems and other conditions have stimulated interest in supplements and creation of countless new products. There are many vitamin/mineral supplements–some containing several nutrients, while others contain only a few specific vitamins, such as biotin or thiamine. These supplements are often available in liquid, block, pellet, or powder form–and they're easy to add to any feeding program.
Editor's Note: The following is a discussion of some available supplement options. It is not intended as an endorsement of any brand or company.
There are laws that regulate foods and drugs sold in the United States to make sure they are safe for humans and animals. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) enforces these laws. Nutraceuticals, however, are unregulated, since they fall into neither class. Thus the horse owner cannot assume a product is safe or effective just because it is being manufactured and marketed.
As stated by Amy Gill, PhD, an equine nutritionist in Lexington, Ky., who designed Equi-Force Equine Products, alternative medicine and dietary supplements have grown in popularity as a means of treating various health conditions and illnesses. But, she cautions horse owners about indiscriminant use of these products.
"Some have been researched and others have little or no scientific evidence to support their efficacy," says Gill. "There are many anecdotal reports on the successful use of many products, however, in treating musculoskeletal conditions, pain, behavioral issues, and as a means to enhance well-being and health."
Kathleen Crandell, PhD, superintendent of Virginia Tech's Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension (MARE) Center, says that many supplements aren't backed by scientific research, and she doesn't think they will be. "There is no incentive for companies to have the products tested for efficacy, since they sell even without the expense of the testing, and the price would go up considerably if the manufacturer had to add those costs for research into the product."
Understanding Supplements
It is important to understand what a product is designed for or intended to do and how it works, before deciding to use it for a specific situation, advises Gill. "It's also important to remember that supplements can only complement a feeding program, good general management, or veterinary advice," she says. "They do not provide an absolute alternative.
"Dietary supplements can be divided into several categories, including digestive support, vitamins and minerals, joint and bone maintenance, performance enhancement, hoof and coat health, immune enhancement, treatment of behavioral issues, metabolic disorders, enhancement of weight gain, and so on," says Gill. Most of these supplements are nutritional and some are nutraceuticals.
Improving Digestion
Some supplements are aimed at feeding the microbes of the hindgut in order to improve digestion of roughages and keep a healthier balance of microbes. Live yeast cultures, for instance, are designed to aid digestion of roughage. Horses prone to colic are often supplemented with yeast, probiotics (friendly bacteria such as Lactobacillus that help break down fibrous parts of forages), and herbs. Proponents believe these supplements have a positive effect on digestion and improve feed utilization.
"Probiotics often include Aspergillus oryzae and yeast," says Gill. "Yeast culture added to a feed ration can help prevent rapid changes in the intestinal environment, especially when high-starch diets are fed, so this helps stabilize the hindgut. Direct-fed microbials (sources of live, naturally occurring microbes such as Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, and Bifidobacterium) are often fed to horses."
Mycotoxin binders and MOS (mannan oligosaccharides that bind to Gram- negative bacteria such as Salmonella) are also used in an attempt to bind toxins or substances that might harm the digestive tract and pass them through.
Vitamins and Minerals
"Supplementation with these nutrients is intended to provide additional fortification of diet, as during high-stress levels," says Gill. Supplementation might also be needed when poor-quality forages are fed, or when feeding growing horses, broodmares in gestation or lactation, or to correct nutritional deficiencies. She believes certain vitamins and minerals help in healing bone/soft tissue injuries, treating metabolic disorders, or when horses undergo intense exercise. But care must be taken to not duplicate and overfeed vitamins and minerals when using supplements.
"Supplemental B vitamins and vitamin C are rarely needed," she says. "Healthy horses produce vitamin C from glucose in the liver. The B vitamins are produced by microbes in the hindgut."
Stressed horses, however, might benefit from supplemental vitamin B if their own production can't keep up with demand, and vitamin C is sometimes helpful if horses are ill, she explains.
Regarding minerals, many of the macrominerals (calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, and sulfur) are often used in electrolyte supplements, or they are fed for their structural role in metabolism (such as bone formation). The microminerals (iron, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, cobalt, silicon, chromium, etc.) are only needed in very tiny amounts. "Several of these, mostly copper, zinc, and manganese, are best absorbed and utilized when fed as chelates (a chelated mineral is chemically bonded to an amino acid to improve uptake by the digestive system) or proteinates (another organic mineral source)," says Gill.
The microminerals are mainly important in aiding biochemical reactions in the body. As with vitamins, minerals should never be overfed. None of them are safe to feed free-choice except for salt.
Many areas of the country are short on certain minerals, such as iodine, selenium, or copper. Tia Nelson, DVM, a veterinarian and farrier in Helena, Mont., says she saw several foals born this year with contracted tendons due to iodine deficiency. "The trace minerals are very important in fetal development, and you need to know if your region is deficient," she says. Trace mineral supplements can be mixed with salt or feed.
Joint/Bone Supplements
Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) is one example of a joint supplement that has been reported to help the body repair normal cartilage wear-and-tear in joints. Some advocates say it also seems to prevent inflammation in connective tissue. "Glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), hyaluronic acid, silicon, and other supplements are used to enhance joint health," says Gill.
Glucosamine is a complex sugar molecule that is a crucial constituent of joint fluid, and chondroitin sulfate is a primary part of joint cartilage. Researchers have said chondroitin sulfate acts as an anti-inflammatory agent capable of inhibiting enzymes responsible for breakdown of cartilage. Studies have shown both nutrients increase the synthetic activity of cartilage-producing cells called chondrocytes, an action that is thought to promote joint repair. Owners have reported horses with degenerative joints receiving glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplements have experienced improvement in lameness, flexion, and stride length.
"Silicon is given to horses to enhance bone density/soft tissue elasticity and strength," says Gill. "Biologically absorbable silicon is thought to increase the uptake of calcium and phosphorus in bone mineralization, and to increase collagen content in the matrix to create more flexible bone." A large study of racing Quarter Horses fed supplemental silicon experienced significantly fewer injuries than horses not on the supplement.
Nelson suggests the supplement cetyl myristoleate–an omega-5 fatty acid with reported anti-inflammatory properties–as a glucosamine or other joint supplement alternative.
Hoof, Skin, and Hair
There are many products designed to improve hoof health, and some of these are marketed by farrier supply companies. Some are feed additives, others are in treat form. Most contain nutrients and ingredients (such as biotin) thought to promote healthy hoof growth. Biotin is involved in cell growth and division, and it serves an important capacity in the health of all connective tissues, including the skin, cartilage, hair coat, and hooves. Some studies have suggested biotin might have positive effects on hoof growth, but the results suggest that you must keep horses on it for a very long time in order for it to be helpful.
Crandell says it's important to note that biotin only affects the new growth of the hoof, and that is why you might not see a difference for a long time. It's also why when you stop feeding it, you can't see the effects until the new growth becomes visible.
With some supplements you might inadvertently overdo certain minerals, such as selenium, if you are not sure about the mineral content of the rest of the diet, says Nelson. She recommends that you pay special attention to feed labels and consult a veterinarian or nutritionist to ensure you aren't oversupplementing.
Health Aids
There are many things fed to horses to enhance health. Some of these might be helpful, but others can be harmful, and even some of the beneficial ones are not without risk. Nelson believes flaxseed meal puts a good bloom on a horse's coat and is also very good for itchy horses or horses with hives. "But it can also increase risk for bleeding," she explains. "Vitamin E will also increase bleeding time, as will fish oil."
Performance Enhancement
Wheat germ oil and various vegetable oils and alfalfa contain octacosanol (a long-chain saturated primary alcohol), which proponents say improves stamina and strength. Dimethyl glycine (DMG) is a compound that seems to help equine athletes increase work output and recover faster, and it also seems to improve appetite. The familiar MSM is an organic compound derived from DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide, which is used topically as an anti- inflammatory). The compound occurs naturally in very small amounts in the bloodstream. Some horse owners use MSM as a supplement to prevent muscle soreness, relieve arthritis, aid in hoof growth, and for a variety of other conditions.
"It's important to note again that all data from the above-mentioned nutraceuticals are anecdotal, and there have not been any significant benefits found in research studies," adds Crandell.
Take-Home Message
Remember that "supplements" are just that–substances designed to be additions to a good nutrition and health management program. Supplements are not benign; they can cause illness, or death if given in inappropriate doses or situations. Always discuss your horse's overall health with your veterinarian, and, if needed, talk to a nutritionist about supplementing your horse's diet for specific needs or conditions.


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Thunderbirds Over Western Pennsylvania
By "The Paranormal Pastor", Robin Swope
After reading the June 4, 2008 edition of Cryptomundo where Loren Coleman highlights the recent Thunderbird sightings in the Appalachians as reported by Stan Gordon, I reflected back to an incident that happened to me a few years ago in Western Pennsylvania.
I think I saw a Thunderbird myself in July of 2001
In 2000 I started working in a local graveyard in Erie County Pennsylvania. I had left association with Denominational churches a few years prior because of the many abuses of power and people that I had seen over the years. Eventually I started my own independent non-denominational organization called Open Gate Ministerial Services to offer services that you would normally find in a church to those who did not belong to any church or religious organization.
As an ordained clergyman of a small fellowship that acted as a church I performed Weddings, Funerals, Baptism/Dedications, and other services as needed to whomever needed them. But it didn't pay well. In fact I never asked for any fee, and lot of the time I never received one. But I liked that. It was very liberating.
But I still had bills to pay and knowing that I went out into the workforce to support my family while still being able to minister to others through our organization.
I ended up working at the graveyard as a gravedigger. I started off as a salesman, but I couldn't make a sale for the life of me. I'm just not the salesman type- especially cemetery sales which is harder than most. But there was an opening in the maintenance department and it paid above the average wage at the time so I jumped at the chance.
Most of the time it was pretty hard work. Digging graves and burying bodies. Then there were the disinternments, taking a body out of a grave to move it to another location-the less said about those experiences the better. But then during the summer months came the times we mowed the grounds and tended the greenery. I was usually assigned to mow the grounds during in the summer and it gave me ample time enjoy the outdoors and commune with nature.
It was one of those days in July of 2001 as I mowed the 23 acres of lawn between the mausoleum and the edge of the property dominated by a line of high tension wires that I saw something very odd. Obviously frightened by the sound of the mower, a gigantic bird had just launched out of the brush 25 yards to my right. If it wasn't so large I might not have noticed it.
The gigantic wings beat the air with dynamic effort and the avian was aloft and soring over the brush and past the sprawling high tension wires and the pillar that supported them. The bird was absolutely humongous and as it past the support tower I noticed that it's wingspan as it reached it's crest ran very close to the length of the towers upper supporting beam.
The creature quickly rose and then glided down past the treetops of the area where where we dumped the excess dirt from digging graves and soon slipped out of sight. It was strange, as a follower of all things Fortean I had heard of Thunderbirds since Elementary school but at this time I was betwixt amazement of what I had just encountered and actually comprehending what it was.
As the realization of what I had just witnessed came to fruition upon my numbed mind I remember jumping off the mower and screaming "YES!" in jubilation. I wanted to drive my mower back to the dumping ground to see if I could by chance catch another look at the strange bird that I had just beheld, to verify my adulation. But I knew that if I did so my boss (who worked us all like the Marines he once served with in Vietnam) would be very irate.
Anyway, the chances of actually finding the bird in the thick woods were going to be pretty slim. So restraining myself I went back to my mowing and glowed in the satisfaction of what I had just beheld.
But what had I just seen?
It was both similar to many large birds that I had seen in the area and yet very distinct. It looked downright primitive. It had no neck, a thin and very pointed beak and a long tail that ended with what looked to be a triangle. It was completely black or dark grey from head to tail with no visible markings on it except a small bulge of plumage under the neck that stuck close to the body.
Here is a rough sketch I made of what it looked like (the grey is added as a highlight, the right wing was also the same color).
Of all the workers in the field that day I was the only one to see it, which is no surprise since the others were scattered throughout the 90 acre property doing various assignments which gave no reason to look up into the sky.
After work I took my measuring tape to the tower and measured the length of the upper support beam by comparing it to the base which was the same length- 20 feet. So I estimated the wingspan of the creature to be anywhere from 15 to 17 feet in length. The only local bird that comes to anywhere near the size of the bird that I had just spotted was the Great Blue Heron. And to tell you the truth they do look similar in many ways. Here is a photo of one just for comparison courtesy of Eric Vaandering:
The wingspan of a Great Blue Heron runs 7 feet at the most. What I had just seen was at least twice that size. I had seen Herons quite frequently since a pair would often fly over our cemetery going to and from the various wet lands that encircled our property. In fact the year before when I first took the job, I had accidentally surprised one of the pair while it fished in the creek that ran by a military memorial.
I was only five feet away as it suddenly jumped out of the water in fright and quickly flew off. I don't know who was more frightened by our close encounter though, seeing such a large bird pop out of nowhere was pretty unnerving. But the avian that I saw that July in 2001 was a giant compared to the Herons that inhabited our local woodland.
So with a possible Thunderbird sighting in hand I did what any good lover of the paranormal would do, I reported it. I sent a letter to Fortean Times and they published it in the August 2001 issue No. 148. Only later did I discover that there had been another Thunderbird sighting in June of that year only 50 miles south in Greenville Pa.
The similarities between the two creatures are striking. Here is a description of the encounter as described by Stan Gordon in an October 1st 2001 posting at www.rense.com
June 13, 2001- "A resident of the town of Greenville, PA reported seeing a large bird the size of a small airplane from his living room. Greensville is a small town that lies near the border of Ohio and about half-way between Erie and Pittsburgh. The witness, Ray (Please note, the witnesses actual name is not used as he has asked for anonymity) upon futher inquiry during a phone interview on June 15, 2001, was able to flesh out the report as. Ray described the bird as fully feathered a dark brown or black color.
The back of the wings was a grayish-black. The body was not bulky and the overall appearance was not like any bird he had ever seen. As the house lies near Little Shedango Stream and the house overlooks a small pond and woodlands, Ray was extremely familiar with the birds and other wildlife in the area including bald eagles, vultures and storks.
Ray stated that the bird flew in from the South at a distance of 200-300 yards from the window and landed on a large tree beside the small pond. As it flew in he saw a shadow first and thought it was an ultra light aircraft that are used in the area by some neighbors. The bird landed and remained on the tree for 15-20 minutes, and then took off again to the South. Ray estimated that the wingspan was equivalent to some of the ultra lights he has seen in the area, around 15 feet of wingspan and upwards of 5 feet of body size.
Was it the same creature? If not then it had to be of the same species.
I worked for the cemetery for five more years after this sighting and I never saw the creature again. But I was watching the skies for it, that was for sure.
I did see a lot of other strange things at Erie County Memorial Gardens in the years I worked there but nothing could compare to my chance encounter with this unknown cryptid. The encounter was breathtaking.
Source: Robin Swope; "The Paranormal Pastor", Robin Swope
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subset: commoncrawl


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algebra, branch of mathematics concerned with operations on sets of numbers or other elements that are often represented by symbols. Algebra is a generalization of arithmetic and gains much of its power from dealing symbolically with elements and operations (such as addition and multiplication) and relationships (such as equality) connecting the elements. Thus, a+ a=2 a and a+ b= b+ a no matter what numbers a and b represent.
Sections in this article:
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Mathematics


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David wrote:What do they get that puts them above human at this point, the low-light vision? fey type?
Some quick background before I answer this. The point-buy system that I'm using to measure the costs of these races is meant to be universal across the d20 System. That means that - insofar as building characters goes - it's meant to be used with 3.0, 3.5, d20 Modern, Pathfinder, etc. all simultaneously; indeed, using this would let you largely use all such characters side-by-side in a single adventuring party.
Because Pathfinder characters are marginally stronger than their 3.X counterparts, they get a small "package deal" - that is, a mini-template - which, because it's applied to *all* Pathfinder characters, isn't charged to their total cost insofar as pricing their characters goes. Between this package deal (which the co-author of the book kindly posted on his blog) and the quickened feat progression, it's actually fairly easy to quantify how much Pathfinder characters are stronger than their 3.5 counterparts overall (even if that overlooks the details of the actual difference between Pathfinder's versions of the various races and classes - you can quantify those too (and the co-author has, for the most part, in other blog posts), but that's a separate issue).
The reason I'm going on about this is that the "Pathfinder Package Deal" helps to set the cost of the net +2 to an attribute that Pathfinder characters receive. From that site:
+2 to an Attribute, Corrupted/the attribute is fixed by race (8 CP).
"Corrupted" refers to a mechanism whereby a weakness is introduced so as to gain a corresponding one-third price reduction, or a +50% increase in power. In this case, the price for a +2 bonus to an attribute has been reduced from 12 Character Points down to only 8 CP, but at the cost of having the +2 be pre-determined by the race in question.
Which brings us back around to the cost of humans under this system. Humans receive:
- One bonus feat, which is 6 CP as a standard price.
- 1 extra skill point per level, which is 3 CP (I can go into why it costs that much, but that's tangential here), and
- Spending 4 CP to buy off the corruption, and so spend that "free" +2 attribute bonus wherever they want.
So in other words, humans cost 6 + 3 + 4 = 13 Character Points under this system. (In 3.5, a human wouldn't get access to that package deal, and so would only cost 9 CP total, for the bonus feat and the skill points.)
Now, contrast this with your standard pony satyr. They get:
- One bonus feat (aka the "brand of destiny") just like humans (6 CP).
- They also receive the Pathfinder Package Deal, and just like humans, spend 4 CP to buy off the corruption so that they can spend it where they want.
- They get low-light vision. That's an Occult Sense, which costs 6 CP.
- Being able to re-roll one Bluff or Diplomacy check once per day isn't very expensive, costing only 2 CP ("Luck, specialized for one-half cost/only for skills, and corrupted for two-thirds cost/only for Bluff or Diplomacy, may not take 20").
- Being treated as per the fey creature type isn't worth much more, being only 3 CP (as a variant of the Privilege ability, since it's basically letting them ignore the very few spells and effects that are specific to Humanoids).
That's 21 CP altogether; among the stuff that they get that humans don't, it's the low-light vision that's the most expensive. That's because any kind of special sensory ability is a not-inconsiderable advantage. In this case, in any condition of less-than-daylight but brighter-than-darkness standards (e.g. most indoor adventuring), they're going to see enemies before their enemies see them (unless they have a special sense as well), which is significant; I've had parties slaughter enemies that had no idea they were there thanks to this.


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La Petite Robe Noire
Eau de Toilette
My New Fragrance
White Bee Bottle 500 ML
Indisponible -
I am absolutely essential and utterly irresistible. I am the chic and very glamorous perfumed creation by Guerlain.
My fragrance is an embroidery of the most beautiful "black" notes of perfumery: black cherry, black rose, patchouli and black tea.
My glass showcase is the legendary "heart-shaped" bottle, which has been boldly reinterpreted with a modern touch. Its crystalline transparency, shaded from black to powdery pink, reveals a silhouette of my little black dress, ready to dance!
Fruity Floral.
Fresh, mischievous, spellbinding.
Black cherry blinks the first wink. It is illustrated by a blend of almond, berries and bergamot. The second twirl takes place as rose enters the stage. Finally, tonka bean tonka bean appears, leading you into almond seduction, highlighted by black tea for a smoky concoction.
I was born in the laboratory of the Exclusive Collections. From that moment on, Thierry Wasser fell madly in love with me and perfected me. Barely bloomed, I was adorned in the Guerlinade, woven from the essential House ingredients. I became fresher, more couture and more sophisticated than ever.


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This service shows you Sights in British Indian Ocean Territory on an interactive map. Cluster markers of varying colors signify different site densities. Simply browse with your mouse through all regions, or swiftly use the search function or the list view with the 0 states of British Indian Ocean Territory. Of course you can search for the nearest Tourist Attraction as well. Please press the 'localize' symbol in order to do this.
You want to avoid expensive entrance fees, or have enough time to visit? Filter refine your search. In order for that you can also select specific types such as landmarks, viewpoints, monuments, museums, theaters and zoos. Additionally the web service provides information about accessibility and displays photos and Wikipedia links for the specific attraction.
We are not the owner of the data, but merely provide the locator software in order to enable users to quickly and easily access this data. You can find further information here. Location data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
This site is powered by Nearest! - a full-featured locator solution for store, brand and real-time locators.


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GeekMoms are often like superheroes–we're leading double lives. Sometimes triple or quadruple lives. And all those lives have stuff, and you need somewhere to put them. I have the kind of work life that's sometimes best led with a sturdy backpack with a TSA-friendly laptop pouch. Then sometimes I just want to be a grown-up, not a backpacker, but I don't want to leave the geek behind. Thus the Kate Spade Cobble Hill Jordan. The Jordan bags are the best combination of tablet case and purse with Kate Spade style.
This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Contact email@example.com to report an issue.
I haven't been much of a purse-carrier for most of my life, but I've come to a point in my life where I'm not always wearing jeans with good pockets. (Insert yet another plea for women's clothing to come with useful pockets!) And that's the point where you start having to carry some kind of bag. I'm also a writer, and writers need to write. The second I got my hands on a tablet, I wanted to know if it could replace my laptop as a writing tool. The first one I had couldn't–it couldn't keep up with the speed of my typing. Now they can, and I'm ready to leave the laptop behind, especially for big conferences like SXSW or Dragon*Con where I don't want to haul a backpack around all day.
Although it's distinctly rectangular (9"'x10" and 2.5″ deep), the Cobble Hill Jordan doesn't scream, "This is my tablet bag!" It has a narrow 22″ adjustable, cross-body, belt-style strap and comes in black or <takei>oh-my</takei> pink.
The bag was designed for an iPad but fits my G-slate tablet as well. If you'd like to measure your own tablet, the space for the screen is 6″x7.75″, and the overall space for the tablet is 7.5″x9.75″.
The Jordan has two compartments, one for the tablet and one for the rest of your stuff. The tablet side unzips on three sides, which makes it easy to fold back the side of the bag and hold in in your lap to use the tablet. The other compartment unzips only across the top, like your average purse. It's not a massive space–you're not going Mary Poppins with this bag. But for a geek girl who just needs a place to put her wallet, phone, and a few small things, it's perfect.
I put the Jordan to the GeekMom test during SXSW and over the last few weeks, and it seems to be the bag that has turned this lifelong pockets-user into a purse-carrier. A spot for my geek goods and I can wear cute dresses without clunking it all up with a leftover-from-college backpack? Sold.
If you prefer orange or green, you might be interested in the similar Grove Court Jordan bag. Both retail for $258.
I received a bag for review.Go Back to Top. Skip To: Start of Article.


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Internal Mobility
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Meet the candidates
Grand County, CO Colorado
The candidates for Grand County commissioner were sent a questionnaire at the end of September and were given two weeks to respond. Candidates for the county commissioner positions are: Chas McConnell, a Republican candidate running for District 1; James Newberry, a Democratic candidate and the only incumbent candidate running for District 1; Merrit Linke, a Republican candidate running for District 2; and Robb Rankin, a Democratic candidate running for District 2. The questionnaire appeared as follows:
1. What is your name?
2. Where is your permanent residence?
3. Where did you receive your education and what area/s did you study?
4. What is your current occupation?
5. List the members of your immediate family.
6. How many years have you been a resident of Grand County?
7. What qualifies you to hold the position you are running for?
8. What do you see as the most pressing issues in Grand County and why? How would you address these issues?
9. What do you see as the top three budgetary issues that need to be addressed in Grand County? How would you address these issues?
10. Do you see any opportunities for reducing the taxpayer's burden in Grand County?
11. Do you believe Grand County is doing enough to promote economic development? If not, what would you do to promote economic development?
12. Do you believe Grand County should play a role in providing public transportation? If not, why not? If so, what should the county be doing?
13. Do you believe Grand County has a role to play in providing funding for or promoting recycling?
14. It appears that by the time the county is able to close the Granby Landfill, the county may have spent $12 million or more. In retrospect, do you believe the situation could/should have been handled differently.
15. Do you believe Grand County is doing an adequate job of protecting its interests in regard to Front Range water diversions? If not, where do you believe current efforts fall short and what would you do differently? If so, what, specifically, do you think the county has accomplished to protect our water?
16. Do you favor or oppose the following water diversion mitigation efforts? (A) Mandatory flushing flows on the Colorado River. (B) A bypass around Windy Gap Reservoir. (C) A bypass around Grand Lake and Shadow Mountain Reservoir.
17. Why are you a better choice for this position than your opponent?
1. Chas McConnell
2. 1031 Mulligan Street, Winter Park Ranch
3. California University of Pennsylvania, B.S. Science and Technology with a major in Printing Technology and a minor in Business Administration
4. Owner, McConnell Design and Printing Company, Winter Park
5. My wife, Ann McConnell, married 22 years, son Lucas 16, junior MPHS, daughter Kaitlin 12,7th grade EGMS, and Cooper, our border collie.
6. I have lived in Grand County for 33 years.
7. I have been a business owner in Grand County for 23 years, and have employed over 25 people in that time. I understand the challenges and rewards of making a living in Grand County. I understand how to make sound business decisions. I have served on numerous committees including the East Grand School District Accountability and Ad Hoc Committees. These committees were challenged with the task to find funding to keep our local elementary schools open. I formed a sub-committee with a business associate, and we petitioned the EGSD to review their medical insurance package resulting in a savings of over $90,000 without reducing benefits to employees. In 2007, while doing independent research, I identified an accounting error made by the county and EGSD. Upon correction of the error, the EGSD received $1,000,000 in additional school impact fees from developers. I understand how to look at problems and find solutions.
8. I believe that the most pressing issues facing Grand County today are the water diversions, the economy, and the Granby landfill.
OUR WATER: The Windy Gap has placed a huge burden on the County. With the permit process negotiations, we have an opportunity to make it right by requiring strong mitigation to protect our rivers from the effects of Windy Gap Firming Project and, in the process, give the river a chance to heal itself. This affords a rare opportunity for Grand County to protect its aquatic resources and its local economy.
THE ECONOMY: We need to encourage responsible economic development that supports sustainable growth. Citizens are leaving Grand County because of our business environment. I worked for several months earlier this year with a firm that specializes in business and economic development to formulate a strategic plan for Grand County. I would like to incorporate some of this expertise into the current county business and economic development department. An important part of this plan is to provide reliable and affordable broadband internet county-wide.
THE LANDFILL: The closing of the Granby Landfill could cost the county millions of dollars. My opponent has been in office for 16 years, nearly 50 percent of the lifespan of this landfill and yet we still do not have resolution of this environmental disaster. It is time for solutions. Working with the engineers, I will make sure that we find the most fiscally responsible and environmentally sound solution for Grand County.
9. The Assessor's office is anticipating that property tax valuations will decrease 10 percent-20 percent in 2013. If this is the case, then our commissioners need to start preparing for the impact now. I feel that we should focus on incorporating efficiencies into our current operations helping to reduce spending in this year's budget easing potentially larger cuts in 2014. As I stated earlier, the Granby landfill could have a large impact to the budget. Fiscally responsible solutions are necessary to lessen the impact to the budget. I believe in fiscally sound and conservative budgeting.
10. Although Grand County has a very healthy reserve, anticipated reductions in revenues and the cost of the Granby landfill may have future impacts to these reserves. If we are to realize a reduction in the taxpayer's burden, we need to operate our government as efficiently as possible, grow our economy and protect our reserves.
11. Until this election year, our county has done little to promote economic development.
I support the formation of a county-wide strategic business and economic development plan. I believe we should invest in experts who have the experience and proven track records; that can perform the appropriate data collection and analysis, define a clear plan for Grand County and assist the county Business and Economic Director with the implementation and management of the plan.
12. Tourism is the economic driver in the Fraser Valley. If we are going to talk about Winter Park in the same sentence as other "World Class" resorts, we have no choice but to pursue viable transportation throughout our communities. Transportation needs are not just an issue for the eastern part of the county, but exists for all communities in Grand County. The challenge with transportation countywide is the great distance between towns. If the service makes financial sense, I would be in favor of having some county involvement.
13. I am a big fan of recycling. I have single stream recycling at my company and I have been able to cut my non-recyclable trash by almost 75%. I have a container and allow customers, friends and others who want to recycle to use this container. Cost is always a factor that affects the decision whether to recycle. I would like to see the county place a priority on recycling. Although the bottom line is always important, we have a responsibility to our earth and future generations. I would be in favor of more county involvement.
14. I believe that this cost could likely be upwards of $20 million. There remain unanswered questions about this environmental and potentially financial disaster. Could we have performed soils tests even though the state didn't require them in the 1970's? Maybe. Could we have closed the dump sooner than 2010 after movement was detected in 2007? Maybe. Hindsight is 20/20, so yes, I believe this situation could have been managed differently. Now it is time for solutions. Working with the engineers, I will do everything I can to make sure that we handle this situation with the upmost integrity and responsibility for our citizens.
15. I believe that Grand County needs to do a better job of protecting our water. Up to 70% of Grand County water is currently being diverted to the Front Range and this water will be gone forever. The commissioners need to do whatever they can to protect the 30% that remains. I would have preferred to have clear definition of the final mitigation plan before signing the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement. The Windy Gap Firming Project currently is being negotiated. In its present form, I would also oppose signing this agreement. Yes, there are some good things being offered to Grand County in this agreement, however, without a bypass around Windy Gap and mandatory flushing flows, it would be a "no" vote from me. The Special Use Permit issued in 1980 to build Windy Gap (by Grand County) needs to be closely followed. Going forward, all water agreements need to be what is in the best interest of the citizens of Grand County. These agreements will be in effect forever. You don't get a second chance to get them right.
16. (A) Absolutely. (B) Absolutely, and Northern Water should pay for it. (C) Absolutely and Northern Water should pay for it.
I would like to add a fourth question – Should there be meaningful mitigation for the Fraser River? Yes, and Denver Water should pay for it. This final Environmental Impact Statement will be released January, 2013.
I would like to see Denver Water and Northern Water take responsibility for the state of our rivers. Our rivers were in fantastic condition prior to these trans-mountain diversions. I understand their statement "It's our water and we have a right to take it", however, not at the expense of the health and welfare of our rivers and local economy. These water companies have a responsibility to do the right thing and can begin by requiring full time mandatory water restrictions on the Front Range. There is only so much of this finite water resource.
17. As a 33 year grand County citizen, I am passionate about Grand County. I've operated McConnell Design and Printing for the past 23 years which has provided me with the experience and skills to lead our county. I know how to make good budgetary decisions, even if they aren't always easy. I believe that representative government was not set up to be a career. After 16 years, it is time for new leadership, new opportunities and new enthusiasm for Grand County.
As citizens we deserve responsible economic development that supports sustainable growth; protection of our rivers; sound and responsible fiscal policies; and efficient and effective county government. I pledge to be powerful pro-business, pro-environment advocate and finally, I promise that every decision I make as your commissioner will reflect my commitment to the unique people and lifestyle of Grand County.
Please visit my website for more information http://www.mcconnell2012.com or call me directly (970-531-1022) to talk about any issues.
1. James Newberry
2. Tabernash
3. Huntingdon College / Education
4. Grand County Commissioner, Head baseball and basketball coach at Middle Park High School
5. Kris / wife, Shelby / daughter, Alex / son (deceased), Buster / my dog
6. 32
7. I am comfortable being in a leadership position. I am very proud of what I have been able to achieve in protecting the rivers and lakes in Grand County and have been instrumental in budgeting to make Grand County only one of two debt-free counties in Colorado. I use a common sense approach when dealing with issues. I try to treat people the way I would like to be treated. I understand being part of a board and working with other boards. My experience has taught me to look at all sides of an issue and let people have their say, LISTEN, and then make a decision.
8. Water. Continue to work towards solutions that give us the tools to save our most precious resource and the lifeblood of our economy. A close second is the Granby landfill. I will continue to evaluate all options and proceed with the most efficient and cost effective plan.
9. Water, landfill, and providing services. The Grand County budget provides a look into our future spending by establishing a five year capital plan. The capital plan is funded with sales tax and must be flexible. The budget also gives a look into the future for items like landfill closing, ambulance and heavy equipment replacement. My plan is based on conservative budgeting so as to continue our debt-free status.
10. I continually look for ways to save money in operations. I have run numbers on privatizing some of the services we provide and have found that we provide our services at a cost effective rate for the taxpayers. I am always open to review any cost savings proposal.
11. I believe that the economy is driven by the private sector. Government's role is mostly infrastructure. I supported hiring an economic development position to investigate how we can provide help. My main focus will be maintaining existing businesses and bringing better and dependable broadband.
12. I have proposed funding to get a better look at what a countywide system would look like and the cost associated with levels of service. This would have to be "new" money.
13. Yes. The discussion is how much the taxpayer wants the government involved and what is the private sector is doing to meet the recycling needs. I welcome that conversation.
14. There are always different options, but based on the information before us, I believe the decisions we have made have been correct. I have taken a systematic approach when addressing all the issues associated with the landfill. Reputable engineering firms have been hired, and as a backup, independent experts review those recommendations. Then all of this information is used as the basis of our plan to fix the problem. By the way, we have spent approximately $6 million so far on the upper berm, engineering, field work, and maintenance. The $12 million that is referenced above is one possible option to stop the slide.
15. I believe David Nickum, president of Colorado Trout Unlimited, summed it up best when he stated, "I have never seen a local government place the level of attention, resources, and overall emphasis on river conservation as has been the case with Grand County over the past five years. They (Grand County) understand that the headwaters are the lifeblood of their communities…" "They (Grand County) have set an example for our public leaders of what strong river stewardship looks like."
16. Short answer is yes I favor water diversion mitigation efforts, but there are many other factors to consider. We need to decide what is the best solution, the bypass or bythrough, what is the proper amount of flushing flows, what is the best option to restore Grand Lake, stream restoration, water temp concerns, learning by doing, 10825 water/ Middle Park water use and storage in Granby res., prepositioning / storage of Windy Gap water, fish flows year round, flows for boaters, Shoshone outage, Blue River decree, Green Mt operations, how does the 1041 permit blend with Denver agreement? If everything falls apart what do we do? Sue? Who pays?, what do we stand to gain?, how long would it take?, who do we sue? Under what standings? And of course how is this all paid for? I have worked on this issue (restoring the rivers and lakes in Grand County) for the past 14 years and I believe we are doing all we can do, under existing conditions, for our water.
17. I will make every effort to keep GRAND COUNTY DEBT FREE! I feel this is a mandate from the taxpayer and it gives the county the flexibility to address issues in a proactive manner. I will continue to do all I can to protect water. I will continue to represent ALL Grand County citizens. I truly enjoy working for the people of Grand County.
1. I am officially listed on the ballot as Merrit S. Linke
2. I live south of on County Road 55 on the original 160 acres that my Great Grandfather Homesteaded on in 1883.
3. I attended East Grand Schools K-12 and then received a degree in Secondary Education with endorsements in Chemistry, Physics and Earth Science in 1985 from the University of Wyoming.
4. I currently operate three interrelated agricultural based businesses; wholesale distribution of livestock feed; livestock grazing and leasing and hay production and marketing.
5. My Wife of 24 years; Teri, daughters, Rachel and McCall, and my son Jace.
6. I was born in Kremmling in 1960, and have lived in Grand County since then except for a few college years and 10 years teaching in Eastern Colorado and Wyoming.
7. Three things: 1. My background: As a Grand county native, I've seen many changes, successes and failures in the county. As a county commissioner, I would like to evaluate what things have worked well in the past and enhance and support them. 2. My Education and Teaching experience: As a science teacher, I learned to evaluate scientifically and objectively, but more importantly, I learned to communicate effectively. 3. My business experience; When I left teaching in 1999 to start my own business, I learned that selling something was really no more than educating my customers and that any successful business realizes that no matter what the product is, your business is a people business.
8. Water: The availability of water is not only necessary for any type of economic stability, but is directly related to our quality of life in Grand County. As commissioners, we need to make sure that all the trans-basin diverters are held accountable for all of their past violations as specified in prior agreements before even considering signing another agreement. America was founded on the rights of individuals to own property and buy and sell it as they wish. I'll protect that right until my dying day, but when what you are doing with your property negatively affects my property, then we have a problem. Right now, the trans-basin water projects are negatively affecting our properties, our businesses and therefore our quality of life. As a commissioner, I would do my best to make sure that all past water agreements are clearly understood and sufficiently enforced.
9. 1. As revenues drop, the county needs to keep itself in line with the taxpayers. Although, having 26 million dollars in the bank is certainly honorable, we need to ask ourselves the question; Where did the money come from? The answer is the taxpayers. Are the taxpayers maintaining status quo? Are the taxpayers holding huge cash reserves? Are the taxpayers maintaining or increasing their payrolls? Are businesses are able to provide the same wages or benefits to their employees now as they did in 2008? 2. Individual departments need to be looked at with a business eye towards efficiency and effectiveness. Are there ways to provide a satisfactory level of service at a reduced cost? Are there some services that could be privatized or eliminated? 3. The Landfill. Much more than an environmental and water quality issue, the landfill will become a unknown, potentially catastrophic financial burden at some point in the future. We need to plan for a worst case scenario in terms of budgeting for that time.
10. The most obstructive burden is the commercial property tax rate. Although this is mandated by the state and is based on property values, the county could look into tax rebates for commercial property owners, sales tax holidays for retail businesses on specific tourist directed items or an overall tax reduction though a change in the assessed value of properties.
11. Superficially, the county has made steps in an apparent right direction. They support the Grand County Tourism Board, they've filled a newly created a economic development position, and they support the Granby Business Initiative, which is expected to become county wide in the near future. It remains to be seen if these provide the payoffs in increased revenue. A basketball coach colleague once told me; "Let us not mistake activity for accomplishment." As commissioner, I would initiate and support the following: 1. Grand County needs to facilitate not regulate. Specifically, what can the county do to get out of the way of progress? For example, in order to put a deck on your own house, you not only have to jump through the hoops of getting a building permit, but it is likely to cost you over $1,000 before you drive the first nail. Let's get that money in the hands of contractors so they can hire more workers and get the economy going. 2. Grand County needs to support resource-based businesses. These are the true revenue generators. For example, Confluence Energy has developed a pellet that is in high demand and is shipping to the North Dakota Oil fields. In Parshall, there is a sawmill starting up that is making 2 x 4's from beetle kill wood. These are two examples of businesses that export products out of Grand County and bring revenue in. We need more of this type of business. 3. We need to do a critical analysis within the county government of the costs versus the benefits of any and all spending by the county-money spent should have a clear benefit to the majority of taxpayers. We should support and enhance those businesses and people that know how to get things done.
12. No, Once again, I don't believe that the county should be in any activity that is in direct competition with any viable private business or that doesn't benefit the majority of our taxpayers. I can't see that at this time, that a taxpayer from Kremmling for example, would benefit from a county wide transportations system. If private businesses can make it work then let's support them.
13. No, I believe the county should support it, facilitate it, but unless it provides a clear benefit for the majority of taxpayers, the county should not fund it. If it is a viable business, it should stand on its own.
14. In retrospect, which is pointless, unless we can learn from it for future situations, the landfill should never have been built where it is. The underlying geology was not studied thoroughly enough-it is on a hillside with obviously unstable surface features, slide prone soil types, and unknown sources and amounts of ground water. I believe that the county should continue with the current dewatering process until enough information is gained to proceed further or it stops moving.
15. No, in regard to the CRCA (Moffat Firming Project), as commissioner I would not have signed the agreement for two reasons, 1. The environmental Impact statement was not complete, and 2. There was no mitigation provided in the agreement for the past violations.
I would say No also to the Windy Gap Firming Project, regarding the 1041 permit that is currently under consideration by the BOCC. Although this agreement appears, and is touted, to be more beneficial to the west slope and Grand County, the bottom line is that the there is less water in the river. Grand County needs to enlist every source available to prevent further trans basin diversions, protect Grand County's best resource and yet strike a balance between protecting private property rights without compromising the property rights of others.
16. A. Research and numerous studies show that flushing flows are a natural process and that flushing flows are beneficial to the de-armoring process needed to maintain our natural fisheries. I support requiring flushing flows in the permit-my only question how much and for what duration? B. Due the complications regarding the UP Railroad line and the associated costs to channel water around the dam, I would be in favor of a through pass, that keeps water flowing during non pumping periods. This would need to be designed so that the quality and quantity is not compromised at it passes through the Windy Gap dam. The original 1980 permit for the creation of the Windy Gap Project specifically says, "The reservoir level should be maintained to not allow mud flats or dust problems." The 1980 resolution 1980-6-4 says that "…the benefits of the proposed facility outweigh the losses of any natural resources or agricultural lands rendered unavailable as a result of the proposed facility." The county should not sign any new permits until the conditions of the current permits are addressed and mitigated. C. Philosophically yes, However, in this situation, there may be more associated environmental problems created than there currently is. I would need more research to accurately assess a proposal such as this.
17. I own and operate a business right here in Grand County that I built from the ground up. I am raising my family here and am part of a family that has deep roots here. I want Grand County to be a place where we all can have opportunities to succeed and prosper. I have a diverse background as a teacher, coach, and independent businessman. I serve on several successful committees-all of which benefit Grand County. Every day I am out working my business, making contacts, talking to people, and I hear about the successes and failings of our residents and businesses. For this reason, I am connected to Grand County and have a vested interest in it's future. Government needs to know and understand its proper role. Government is of the people, by the people and for the people and not something that is done to the people.
1. Robb Rankin
2. 502 W. Garnet, PO Box 1245, Granby, CO 80446
3. BA, Western State College, Gunnison, CO, Elementary Education and Psychology. MA, Western State College, Gunnison, CO, Educational Administration. PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, Educational Administration and Statistics.
4. Educational Consultant, Retired Superintendent of Schools
5. Wife, Molly, kindergarten teacher at Fraser Valley Elementary School; Son, Ben, civil engineer in Bozeman, MT; Son, Nick, restaurant manager in Denver, CO.
6. Moved here in 1981, Greeley from 1990-96, back in 1996. Total of 26 years living in Grand County.
7. I have a passion for public service, with over 30 years experience in public education in Colorado. The last twelve were spent as Superintendent of Schools in the East Grand School District, developing and administering annual budgets up to $20 million and indirectly supervising about 180 staff members. As superintendent, I worked with many other governmental entities, including Grand County. In the last five years I also gained additional experience in the private sector, working with small businesses, international business sales, and consulting. My community involvement is varied, serving on the Grand Foundation Board, Grand Beginnings Board, Granby Rotary Club, Granby Resource Initiative Board and Middle Park Fair Junior Livestock Sale Committee. With my diverse background I would bring balance to the Board of County Commissioners and I would listen carefully to the concern of my constituents.
8. Number one is working on the economic development of the area. Historically, Grand County has been "boom and bust." We need to try and stabilize our employment and businesses on a sustainable level. Using the local resources (outlined below) would be first and foremost. Protecting our public lands is key to this effort. Part of the Republican platform of considering "whether parts of the federal government's enormous land holdings and control of water in the West could be better used for ranching, mining or forestry through private ownership" would be devastating for Grand County locals and visitors, the lifeblood of our economy. Opposition to any effort in this arena is imperative. Close behind this issue are others, also covered below, of preserving our water resources and effectively closing the Granby landfill. The bottom line is to preserve and improve the quality of life for Grand County residents and enhance the area to continue to attract visitors who vacation where we live.
9. The County is in good financial condition due to prudent spending in the past. Personnel and programs have not been cut during the recent financial downturn. However, County employees have not had raises during this period while their household costs have risen. Careful examination of the County's budget needs to occur, looking at reserves and prioritized expenditures to see if employees are appropriately and competitively compensated, with possible budget reallocation considered. Balancing "spending" and "saving" with impending decreases in property valuation will require cautious consideration.
Closing the Granby landfill is a major budgetary issue and is addressed below. The County has the responsibility to address the issue. It highlights the point that all actions by the County have to be carefully examined for future potential impacts.
The third major budgetary issue with which the County needs to deal is not to lose sight of the importance and funding for programs in human services, public and home health, and early childhood. These programs are vital to maintaining and improving the quality of life for our citizens.
10. "Burden" is relative. The property taxes in Grand County are generally much lower than other counties in the State and particularly other states. Constant vigilance has been given and needs to continue to ensure the funds are used effectively and efficiently; I see no issues at this time. However, carefully examining the multiple different taxing entities within the county and seeing if combining administrative functions or other cooperative efforts, such as combined purchasing, which could reduce costs is viable and should occur.
11. The recent addition of the County Economic Development Coordinator was a positive step to dedicate resources to this effort. Now the County has a specific office and personnel for contacts and possible state and federal opportunities in this area. Other work, such as the Granby Enterprise Initiative, should be supported and linked to concentrate on a "grow your own" philosophy first-and-foremost. Attracting businesses to move to this area will be enhanced by improved high speed Internet access and a transportation system.
12. Transportation studies have been done in the past by the County and showed the possible benefits. These should be updated. Grand County is about the only mountain resort region that does not have a public transportation system for the local workforce and visitors. I believe the County has to take the initiative in this area, with the study and possibly pursuing a mill levy election to support the system's operation.
13. With the closing of the landfill and shifting the operation of trash to the private sector, the County got out of this business. In the past, the County invested in machinery for recycling efforts which no longer are in use. The private companies that have taken over the trash operations have recycling options as well at a minimal cost; other private recycling companies have started as well. These business efforts should be promoted, but the County should not be providing direct funding for them. The County should be recycling wherever possible and supporting the private companies.
14. 20/20 hindsight is always wonderful! The reality is that the landfill was located in an area that was/is geologically unstable. That was probably not much of a factor at the time the first load of trash was dumped there. Now the geology of the area is important, particularly with tons of garbage on top of gooey clay sliding downhill! Closing the dump was the right thing to do and the County has to abide by the Colorado Department of Public Health regulations in doing so. This will protect our watershed long-term and we need to do the right thing now, even if we didn't do the right thing then. The County is proceeding with the project in the most cost-effective and prudent manner possible; it is costly and painful, but unavoidable.
15. Water diversion has been going on in Grand County since the Grand Ditch was constructed in the 1800's. Water rights have been sold by private and public interests to the Front Range providers for decades; we can't stop them dead-in-their-tracks, no matter how simplistic slogans may make us think we can. The current and proposed agreements have been in the works for 10 years or more and protect our interests in the best way possible, given the current circumstances. I support the Moffat Agreement and the proposed Windy Gap Firming Agreement. Using Lake Granby for Grand County storage for endangered fish sustainable flows is a major "plus" in the proposed Windy Gap Firming Project, along with addressing the clarity issue of Grand Lake. The Denver agreement guaranteed 1,000 acre feet of environmental flow and did not allow Denver to sell any of this water to other Front Range water users.
16. I have often used a quote: "For every complex problem, there is a simple obvious solution that is wrong!" I believe this applies to the water issue and the inter-connectedness of the problems and solutions. Agreements are proceeding on a study of a bypass around Windy Gap for the impact and cost of the bypass; I support doing the study first. If the bypass won't fix the problem, don't waste the money. Go to Plan B. "Flushing flow" sounds great, but how much water is needed to accomplish the task? In 2012, I doubt we ever had enough water in any of our rivers to qualify. Again, more study is needed. A tunnel from the canal inlet to Shadow Mountain to the Adams Tunnel is intriguing for Grand Lake's clarity. I'm open to the idea, but the impact to both lakes would be tremendous, along with a substantial cost.
17. Experience reduces the learning curve. I have dealt with multi-million dollar budgets, governmental rules and regulations, other governmental entities, large numbers of staff, and public "input." I understand effectiveness and efficiency from business and governmental perspectives. Public service requires thick skin, standing by decisions made in the best interests of the majority and being able to withstand the criticism of the minority; I've been there. My background, community involvement and interests are from multiple facets of Grand County life, putting a balance on the representation on the Board of Commissioners. I am committed to represent all constituents of the County, particularly the Granby and Grand Lake area.
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Our History
Chartered in 1885, the Woman's Christian Association of New York was founded as a boarding house for young working women and a one room hospital for its residents and other sick or injured persons. From these humble beginnings, WCA continued to grow and expand to meet the ever changing needs of the community.
For more than a century, WCA has provided quality care and the most modern equipment for screening, diagnostics and treatment. It serves a rural population expanding from western Cattaraugus County, throughout Chautauqua County and to the northwestern part of Warren County, Pennsylvania.
The WCA School of Nursing graduated its first nurse in 1890. The school continued until 1964 when it closed its doors in favor of the Associate Nursing Degree Program at the Jamestown Community College. A total of 799 nurses graduated from the WCA school.
WCA Hospital of Jamestown is Southwestern New York's largest not-for-profit healthcare provider, offering an extensive range of inpatient and outpatient acute and rehabilitation services. WCA is accredited by The Joint Commission and American College of Radiology and is approved by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.
View our history:
- Milestones in UPMC Chautauqua History
- Historic Hospital Building(1897)
- First Operating Room (early 1900's)
125th Anniversary
Commemorative Book
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Download (PDF)


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Tributes To Girish Chandra Ghosh
" Girish has one hundred and twenty-five per cent faith. "
" In G.C. [Girish] alone I have seen that true resignation-that true spirit of a servant of the Lord…I have not met his parallel. From him I have learnt the lesson of self-surrender. "
"If one is in the company of Girish Babu for even five minutes, one gets freed from worldly delusion…He has such keen insight that he can see at a glance the innermost recess of a man's heart, and by virtue of this powerful insight he was able to recognise the Master as an Avatar."
– Nag Mahashay
Further Reading
Girish Chandra Ghoshby Sri Chinmoy
They Lived With God – Book on Disciples of Sri Ramakrishna at Amazon.com


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Oscar-winning producer and Recorded Picture Company boss Jeremy Thomas has revealed details of his plans for the 3D version of Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor (1987).
"I've done a beautiful 4K 3D version of The Last Emperor under the tutelage of Bernardo (Bertolucci) and (cinematographer Vittorio) Storaro," Thomas commented.
"It's perfect, beautiful, ands it makes the film look incredible."
The 3D version, nearing completion, has been done in collaboration with visual effects specialists Prime Focus.
Thomas is now plotting how to ensure the 3D version will be shown in China.
"There is a very big audience in China for this film," Thomas said.
The Recorded Picture Company boss will travel to China to negotiate the release of the film in person. "You need to go there. You need to go and see and talk to people."
Release arrangements are also yet to be set for elsewhere for the 3D Last Emperor. Thomas suggested distributors who handled the film first time round are in pole position, as long as they can deliver "proper" cinemas.
For full production information
The original 2D version, a biopic of Puyi (the Last Emperor Of China), was produced independently by Thomas and went on to win nine Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Picture. The film famously broke new ground by shooting inside The Forbidden City in Beijing.
Thomas has had mixed fortunes in China with some of his other recent films. Partly for censorship reasons, David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method, about the friendship and rivalry between Freud and Jung, is yet to be seen in Chinese cinemas.
"We are selling VOD films in China but to have your film released properly…it is still a very difficult place to work," Thomas commented.
Thomas has several new films in the pipeline, among them Jim Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive and Vara: A Blessing, the new feature from Bhutanese auteur Khyentse Norbu.


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Check out this beauty of a ragtop owned by Danny Soto, who hails from East Los Angeles, California. Danny, who's been a member of the Groupe Car Club (Los Angeles) for more than 30 years, has seen his share of rides, car shows, and cruises. We figured why not ride along and shoot down one of the most famous cruising streets in the world, Whittier Boulevard; specifically, the area between Eastern and Garfield Avenue.
Danny's history with "The Groupe" goes back to the early 1970's, when he was attending grade school with the late Joey Abeyta, a buddy who would later become one of Groupe's club presidents.
Being the owner of several 1965 Chevy Impala cars, Danny found this latest ride literally down the street from his casa. He actually bought it from his son's buddy, who wasn't ready to have such a classic ride for a daily driver. "Back then it was a silver-blue color with a black top, and it had original wheels, with the stock hubcaps. Even the radio still worked," said Danny.
The car was so clean that Danny opted to re-plate all the chrome and any stainless that had seen better days, so he had his partner Danny Boy take care of that while the car was at the painters. The car also sports new wiring harnesses from CARS Inc., while Blasting Specialties & Coating in the city of Commerce powder-coated the fender-wells, hood hinges, seat brackets, spring kit, and motor brackets.
Since he already owned a Candy Red hard top, Danny chose to go blue, but darker than the factory color. The all-blue theme carries over to the Mike Perez blue interior and custom top, which is made out of BMW material. During the process, he was looking to create something classier than the average "ragtop." The cage of the top is powder coated and the latches have been chromed.
On the mechanical end, Danny needed a driver, as he loves to cruise around and reminisce about the old days. Since he first fell in love with the way it drove, Danny refurbished the engine, tranny, and cooling system to make sure his baby would be able to run tip-top to any show, event, or cruise night. That meant having Soto's Radiator in East LA re-core the radiator.
As for his current project, how does a Candy Cobalt Blue '64 Impala with fade-away panels sound to you? Hey Danny, when all is said and done, let us know when your schedule opens up so we can check out this six-four!